Pretty soon they'll be serving it in church, da?

[Jacob4707]

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/09/06/business/worldbusiness/06bux600_.jpg
The first Starbucks in Russia opened Thursday in a mall near Moscow. The company was slow to enter this market, initially because of the economy and later because of a trademark squatter.

By ANDREW E. KRAMER
Published: September 7, 2007

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/07/business/worldbusiness/07sbux.html?ref=todayspaper

KHIMKI, Russia, Sept. 6 — With the hiss of an espresso machine and a note in Russian explaining the meanings of “tall,” “grande” and “venti,” Starbucks opened its first coffee shop in Russia on Thursday in a mall in this city near Moscow.

The opening sealed a victory for the company in a fight with a trademark squatter who had kept Starbucks from coming to Russia for more than three years, just as a coffeehouse culture was emerging here. Starbucks refused to pay the squatter to yield the Starbucks name in Russia and eventually prevailed in court.

The dispute illustrates the challenges Starbucks will face as it strives to expand outside the United States, where growth is expected to slow. Starbucks intends to open 20,000 coffee shops overseas while expanding to about that number at home.

With the opening of the first Russian cafe, Starbucks, which is based in Seattle, now operates in 43 countries, said Carole Pucik, a Starbucks spokeswoman. The company plans to open a flagship Russian shop on Old Arbat Street, a prime address in downtown Moscow, later this year. “We see lots of opportunity here,” Ms. Pucik said.

The menu of basic coffee drinks is the same as in the United States, and indeed everywhere in the world, Ms. Pucik said. The sandwiches and baked goods are adapted for local tastes. The Russian shop, for example, offers a mushroom-and-cheese sandwich.

In Russia, the prices are a reflection of the oil-driven economic boom here. A tall filter coffee costs 75 rubles, or about $2.92. The most expensive item on the menu was a venti mocha, for 230 rubles, or about $8.96. A venti mocha at Starbucks in New York costs $4.71.
Starbucks first registered its trademark in Russia in 1997 but did not open any shops here because of the economic crisis of 1998. Then in 2002, as the Russian economy was picking up again, Sergei A. Zuykov filed a request with Russian authorities to cancel the chain’s trademark because it had not been used in commerce in Russia. He then registered Starbucks in the name of a Moscow company he represented as a lawyer.

Mr. Zuykov, a lawyer and a former car alarm salesman who says he has claimed many brands, defended his stake on the name Starbucks for three years, saying that if Starbucks would pay $600,000, he would abandon his registration. The company refused to pay.
He lost his case in November 2005 as Russia stepped up its bid for membership in the World Trade Organization and hewed closer to international standards for the protection of intellectual property.

Despite this setback, which allowed competitors a head start, Starbucks said it saw plenty of room for more coffee shops in Russia. Ms. Pucik, the Starbucks spokeswoman, cited data from Euromonitor International, a market research company, showing that Moscow has one coffeehouse for every 3,187 people. New York has one for every 365 people, and Paris one for every 126.

[Cyprian31]

Let me say I love coffee - it's almost a religion in and of itself but -

This Is Just Wrong.

:o

[Kristos]

Interesting. Maybe they can put one at the airport too!

Strange thing, because I consider myself a "good coffee" person, but I dig on the Nescafe when in Russia... It just taste different over there;) But seriously, what self-respecting Russian doesn't drink tea over coffee anyway:):):)

[RobNJ]

IS OUTRAGE!!!!

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/NJRob/IsOutrage.gif

Was it over priced over-roasted-cat-urine-scented-left-coast coffee, in 19th century Russia???

NO, IT WAS NOT!!

You drank tea, strained through old sock . And was glad on days it was clean sock!!

[Jacob4707]

My question to Russian speakers is: Why is "Starbucks" spelled as CTAPBAKC = "Starbaks"? Is CTAPBYKC = "Starboooks" not as close-sounding to "bucks" as "bahcks" is?

[DarkNLovely]

YOU MEAN THEY HAVE NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW THE JOYS OF STRAWBERRY FRAPPACHINOS UNTIL NOW!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! :swoon:

[Oblio]

My question to Russian speakers is: Why is "Starbucks" spelled as CTAPBAKC = "Starbaks"? Is CTAPBYKC = "Starboooks" not as close-sounding to "bucks" as "bahcks" is?

That was my question also.

[SeraphimSarov]

Was it over priced over-roasted-cat-urine-scented-left-coast coffee, in 19th century Russia???

NO, IT WAS NOT!!

Is truth! Indeed is outrage!!!

[Dewi Sant]

IS OUTRAGE!!!!

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a74/NJRob/IsOutrage.gif

Was it over priced over-roasted-cat-urine-scented-left-coast coffee, in 19th century Russia???

NO, IT WAS NOT!!

You drank tea, strained through old sock . And was glad on days it was clean sock!!


Agreed.

I never, ever drink at Starbucks.

I have in the past and I've always left feeling nauseous :sick: .
I don't know what it is, maybe the coffee is just too sweet. I personally think that coffee is a very sweet seed as it is and does not require sugar (coffee is not a bean but infact a seed)

I can generally tell the quality of a coffee by the aroma in a coffee house.:blush:

But, if you're ever in Britain and fancy a good cup of coffee without having to 'taste', go to Cafe Nero. Wonderful coffee for a chain establishment.

Otherwise, shop around.

Myself, I create coffee which has no equal but I shan't tell my secret method (I may use it later to create lots of money ^_^ ....though, I'm sure that fermented tobacco would work amazingly well in smoke free bars:P )

[Dewi Sant]

Also, may I add.
Starbucks lacks the personal environment that family run coffee shops have.

You know.
The plush carpet. The musky/coffee scent. The stained glass windows and the polite informal conversation with the Barrista...instead of "your order is on its way...NEXT!"

Oh, and paying after you've finished, not before....with the bill coming on a nice little dish with some mint imperials. Oh, and the coffee should come with Amaretti biscuits :)

[Sothron]

YOU MEAN THEY HAVE NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW THE JOYS OF STRAWBERRY FRAPPACHINOS UNTIL NOW!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! :swoon:


I have never drank coffee. :P

Can't stand the smell or what the perceived taste would be. I drink tea or coke zero for my caffeine fix.

[TrueHope]

U guys are too much!

When I met my hub, he used to take us to Starbucks every Fri. for late date night. We'd sit in plush chairs swooning over each other and drinking hot chocolate until the wee morning hours. When we came to Greece, we didn't find one....until a year later....so we went...with the fam....it just was not the same....nope nope nope.....

I'll stick to my special handy dandy frappe' secret recipe too....but I don't store tobacco....or use socks....the secret is mine...Mine....MINE I TELL YOU!:pray::pray::pray::pray::pray:

[DarkNLovely]

I have never drank coffee. :P

Can't stand the smell or what the perceived taste would be. I drink tea or coke zero for my caffeine fix.
YOU HAVE NEVER HAD COFFEE? OMYGOODNESS! !!

http://www.thecatgallery.com/images/shocked-cat-2.JPG

[DarkNLovely]

U guys are too much!

When I met my hub, he used to take us to Starbucks every Fri. for late date night. We'd sit in plush chairs swooning over each other and drinking hot chocolate until the wee morning hours. When we came to Greece, we didn't find one....until a year later....so we went...with the fam....it just was not the same....nope nope nope.....

I'll stick to my special handy dandy frappe' secret recipe too....but I don't store tobacco....or use socks....the secret is mine...Mine....MINE I TELL YOU!:pray::pray::pray::pray::pray:
LOL! You are a riot, True!

[TrueHope]

YOU HAVE NEVER HAD COFFEE? OMYGOODNESS! !!

http://www.thecatgallery.com/images/shocked-cat-2.JPG


I'm crying.....HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rofl

[Sothron]

YOU HAVE NEVER HAD COFFEE? OMYGOODNESS! !!

http://www.thecatgallery.com/images/shocked-cat-2.JPG




One day you too will convert to sweet tea! (And Orthodoxy but first things first, right?)

[DarkNLovely]

One day you too will convert to sweet tea! (And Orthodoxy but first things first, right?)
LOL!!! I love sweet tea already, so I guess I'm half-way there! Ever had peach flavor?

[cobweb]

I believe in both. (Sweet tea and coffee, that is.)

[Shubunkin]

I'm feeling very low right now... all this talk of Starbuck's coffee while I'm here sipping on INSTANT coffee !!!!

:cry:

[DarkNLovely]

I'm feeling very low right now... all this talk of Starbuck's coffee while I'm here sipping on INSTANT coffee !!!!

:cry:
AWWW! OH THE HUMANITY OF IT ALL!!! I'LL CRY WITH YOU!!! :cry::cry:

[Jacob4707]

http://waterandspirit.blogspot.com/2007/06/friends-dont-let-friends-drink-bad.html

[fuerein]

One day you too will convert to sweet tea! (And Orthodoxy but first things first, right?)

Sweet tea?!?! :eek: :sick: Halt thy blasphemeries! Tea gets served straight up, no sugar, no honey, no milk!

[TrueHope]

I'm feeling very low right now... all this talk of Starbuck's coffee while I'm here sipping on INSTANT coffee !!!!

:cry:
Me too! I want one now too....now, I must go make me a cinnamon frappe'

[TrueHope]

http://waterandspirit.blogspot.com/2007/06/friends-dont-let-friends-drink-bad.html
That was great!!!! Yup...running now!

[Michael the Iconographer]

Interesting. Maybe they can put one at the airport too!

Strange thing, because I consider myself a "good coffee" person, but I dig on the Nescafe when in Russia... It just taste different over there;) But seriously, what self-respecting Russian doesn't drink tea over coffee anyway:):):)
Most airports I have been in have a Starbucks. Pittsburgh has one, Charlotte has one and Savannah has one.

[RobNJ]

Sweet tea?!?! :eek: :sick: Halt thy blasphemeries! Tea gets served straight up, no sugar, no honey, no milk!

"Sweet Tea" if, I'm not mistaken, is Southern for Iced Tea

[Shubunkin]

Most airports I have been in have a Starbucks. Pittsburgh has one, Charlotte has one and Savannah has one.
I had no idea that Pittsburg, Charlotte, and Savannah were in Russia! :D

[Shubunkin]

"Sweet Tea" if, I'm not mistaken, is Southern for Iced Tea
The best drink I ever had was a Mint Julep in Disneyland's French Quarter. :yum:

[authiodionitist]

The OCA could make an official response about this....

Same line as we always take:
"The Orthodox Church in America, as a daughter of the Russian Chuch, stands in strength and solidarity with the faithful who pledged witness in America so long ago....

As an autocephalous Orthodox Church, we believe in the freedom and ability of all Christians to choose how to embrace and follow Christ to His glory....

The Holy Synod, therefore, endorses Starbucks Corporation and its Russian expansion as an extension of the US appreciation of the Russian land and the Russian people.....

We stand by our heritage, and look towards the future with open arms........"


Isn't how all of our encyclicals sound? (Except for the Starbucks part, of course).

[Kristos]

Most airports I have been in have a Starbucks. Pittsburgh has one, Charlotte has one and Savannah has one.
I meant in Moscow...

[Jacob4707]

I meant in Moscow...

Yep, there's a Starbucks in Moscow:

http://www.starbucks.com/retail/locator/MapResults.aspx?storeKey=40984

However, the airport doesn't have one:

http://www.pullman-wa.gov/airport/

[rusmeister]

Rusmeister here!
Yes, the modern trend is to spell things as closely as possible to their pronunciation in the original language, rather than to concide spelling. This, 'Starbaks' (the American slang word, 'bucks', as in $, is also spelled this way)

I live near Moscow - Moscow is my (of necessity) stomping grounds. I just drove there yesterday - you DON'T want to drive in downtown on weekdays!!! It took me 2 hours to get out of there (from 8 to 10 pm) :eek: :sick: :help: , never mind the third hour to get home.

There used to be Pizza Hut and Dunkin Donuts, but they were driven out, local businesses took them over and didn't do very well. Mickey D's, on the other hand, has built its own factories and is extremely successful. What we need everywhere are good breakfast nooks, or failing that, at least Denny's. I'd pay triple for a Denny's in my town!

Still, I think Okudzhava (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okudzhava)would not be happy about its location on the old Arbat...

This has nothing to do with the price of tea in China, but if you don't know about Bulat Okudzhava, you should. I think I'll start a thread on this guy.

[Sothron]

"Sweet Tea" if, I'm not mistaken, is Southern for Iced Tea

You are correct. Sweet tea > any other beverage. :yum:

[Dewi Sant]

Sweet tea?!?! Halt thy blasphemeries! Tea gets served straight up, no sugar, no honey, no milk!

Brothers in Tea. :)

I've even heard that tea is best not served in a tea bag...I've got to try that.
At the moment I'll make a pot for myself (though you can get about 12 cups out of it :P) with just 2 tea bags...but it isn't weak at all.

I like it nice and strong and yes, 'straight up'.
It's amazing when you stop having sugar how sweet apparently bitter food and drinks really are.
Coffee and tea, I find to be very sweet.

Apparently Coca Cola without sweeteners is nasty...I've never tried it, I don't think they produce it, but I'm guessing it'll basically taste like vegetables. I used to find it comical how it says on the back "soft drink made with vegetable extracts"...I thus claimed it to be a health drink :P. (I chose not to read the bit about glucose, sugar and sucrose ^_^)

[Kristos]

Or, how about a nice glass of Kvac?

[Philothei]

Hey True Hope have you tried yet the Ice-cream frappe floats? :) yam... with the coffee shops in Greece no starbucks can stand any luck.... If anyone goes to Athens the plethora of coffee shops would blow your mind...as for frapuccinos they make the best and beats any Starbucks or Dunkin donut shop here in the states... not to mention their waffle ice-cream sandwitches...mmmm.... I miss Greece already :)...


Philothei

[Dewi Sant]

Ahh Greece, somwhat synomynous with Utopia to me :)
Though I do of course realise that in many ways it is far from it.

[TrueHope]

Hey True Hope have you tried yet the Ice-cream frappe floats? :) yam... with the coffee shops in Greece no starbucks can stand any luck.... If anyone goes to Athens the plethora of coffee shops would blow your mind...as for frapuccinos they make the best and beats any Starbucks or Dunkin donut shop here in the states... not to mention their waffle ice-cream sandwitches...mmmm.... I miss Greece already :)...


Philothei


MMMMMMmm MMMMMMMMMMM Yummmmm!!!!! Oh yes!!!!! Funny thing is, with all the coffee shops, Dunkin Donuts (In Glyfada) is hopping non-stop...and let me tell you...their "American ice-coffee"...any flavor...STINKS!!!!! And Starbucks...they too are always hoppin. I think it's the "American" stigma that keeps them in business...because, personally, I kinda like the little kafeneo's where the old men sit and smoke all day. And the quaint coffee shops they have anywhere in the Athens area. They make excellent coffees! But beware....some coffee shops here are thieves....they ask 7.50 + Euros for a Frappe'....especially during the tourist seasons....:eek:

And as for Greece being Utopia....it certainly can be.....the longer I am here, the more in love with it I am. (It grows on ya once you become a resident. When a tourist...automatic...I LOVE IT HERE!)

[Dorothea]

Starbucks is too strong for my liking. When we visited Seattle (for the children's hospital there), my hubby used to love the coffee at Tully's.

[Michael the Iconographer]

I had no idea that Pittsburg, Charlotte, and Savannah were in Russia! :D
I thought he meant that airports in general would have them. He did not specificly state that airports in Russia would have them.

[Michael the Iconographer]

The OCA could make an official response about this....

Same line as we always take:
"The Orthodox Church in America, as a daughter of the Russian Chuch, stands in strength and solidarity with the faithful who pledged witness in America so long ago....

As an autocephalous Orthodox Church, we believe in the freedom and ability of all Christians to choose how to embrace and follow Christ to His glory....

The Holy Synod, therefore, endorses Starbucks Corporation and its Russian expansion as an extension of the US appreciation of the Russian land and the Russian people.....

We stand by our heritage, and look towards the future with open arms........"


Isn't how all of our encyclicals sound? (Except for the Starbucks part, of course).
What is with the OCA bashing?

[Philothei]

True Hope I agree about pricing.. They are ridiculous that is the reason I started making my own frape floats... By the way, my brother has a boat and gives daily and 3 day trips to the Evia area if you are interested... He lives in Rafina, If you guys need to go for sailing just let me know and I can pm you his website. I heard that tourism was high this summer... BTW you and your hubby and priest look wonderful! I love your tan too. You must spend hours at the beach

[fuerein]

"Sweet Tea" if, I'm not mistaken, is Southern for Iced Tea
I know sweet tea is southern for iced tea, but southern iced tea is sweetened. Even iced tea does not get a sweetener IMO. The only reason I drink sweetened ice tea is because I did not make it.

[Philothei]

Why y'all do not like the southern sweet tea? I think it is perfect with some fresh leaves of mint in it drinking it in the front porch on a hot summer day :)!

[TrueHope]

True Hope I agree about pricing.. They are ridiculous that is the reason I started making my own frape floats... By the way, my brother has a boat and gives daily and 3 day trips to the Evia area if you are interested... He lives in Rafina, If you guys need to go for sailing just let me know and I can pm you his website. I heard that tourism was high this summer... BTW you and your hubby and priest look wonderful! I love your tan too. You must spend hours at the beach
Hey...we are next to Rafina! I see the ferries every day! How cool is that?!?! We have a small skafos, and we are planning on going tomorrow. Life permitting.

(As for the photos, I barely went to the beach this year....so windy....and the sand flying into the mouth...not my cup o' tea...LOL...no pun intended....or did I...hee hee)

Hub lost weight and looks much better now...(Phew!):D

[Philothei]

You got to meet my bro then! He has his boat in Rafina :). Right there next to the ferries. His sail boat is called Afroditi.... you cannot miss it. If you see it tell him you know his sister... you talk to her on a forum. His name is Dimitris. Small world..

[Protoevangel]

My name s Dan,and I'm a coffeaholic.

Seriously. I love strong, black coffee. The stronger the better. I even enjoy espresso straight.

It's so bad that I've pretty much quit drinking coffee for health reasons. I'm currently substituting with a caffeinated beverage called Morning Spark (which is no improvement over coffee, but it is other than coffee). I even quit that for a while, (about three weeks) but my co-workers asked me to start drinking caffeine again. :blush: Apparently, I don't think straight or focus well without my daily fix. Oh well, I have less than a month left before my contract ends. I can detox while I'm unemployed.

I agree that Starbucks isn't the greatest. They are a thousand times better than that skunk-pee they sell at Tim Horton's (in Canada), though <<shudder>>. :D

And, yea, Tea, straight up. Unsweetened, and hot. Thank you.

[MamaBug]

I feel like such an outcast - I actually like Starbucks. Of course, I usually go for the 'creme' drinks when I can justify it. I had a 3 hour break between classes my first year of grad school pre-reqs. I would go to the bagel shop and get a good toasted onion bagel and cream cheese and then next door to the starbucks for a Hot Chocolate, then sit down to do my Calculus homework.

Ah, good times....

[TrueHope]

You got to meet my bro then! He has his boat in Rafina :). Right there next to the ferries. His sail boat is called Afroditi.... you cannot miss it. If you see it tell him you know his sister... you talk to her on a forum. His name is Dimitris. Small world..
This is great! :clap:We usually go into Rafina every Sat. night to Metoreas (Sp?) It is a small restaurant by the church in the center. It is home cooked Greek cooking. (Since I am no Greek woman nor cook (Yup, though half my style is Greek, I still stick to the American basics as much as I can and international)...we love it there) and often drive by the ferries...IF they aren't dropping people off, because then it is chaotic. My hub is looking to rent there, because the schools are far better than the ones our kids are stuck at...but you have to be a resident or know someone......a lot of my friends know someone, so they live here, but school there...NOT FAIR!:cry: Well, I got up way too early...me and hub were stuck looking at what could be a planet...that was like this enormous star until 7...then I went back to sleep...so now I MUST make me a yummmmmmy frappe' soes I can function.............like Protoevangel, I be an addict....if I don't have one...I am like a depressed, head-achy monster inside, and a sloth outside!

I will tell my hub about your brother and his sailboat. Maybe they can meet, since we only own a small zodiac, it is nothing in comparison. My hub knows how to sail...but sail boats are far too expensive and a lot of work....thus the Zodiac for now. The idea was to zip to and from Evia. Thanks so much!:pink: